Automatic control system for book sewing machine



3,492,955 AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINE Feb. 3, 1970J. T. GALLAGHER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 26,

1 INVENTOR. Bgose b/i TGb/bjher H T TORNEYS 3,492,955 AUTOMATIC CONTROLSYSTEM FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1967 Feb. 3, 1970 J. T.GALLAGHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR -75se 6 7'6'a//a /2er United StatesPatent O 3,492,955 AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BOOK SEWING MACHINEJoseph T. Gallagher, 1 Highland Drive, East Greenbush, N.Y. 12061 FiledMay 26, 1967, Ser. No. 641,689 Int. Cl. B42h 1/02; DOSb 65/00; B65h39/02 US. Cl. 112--21 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus forautomatically assembling signatures into books in which successivesignatures fed to the machine are sewed to each other, the first andsecond signature of each book and the next to last and last signature ofeach book are glued to each other, the threads between successive booksare cut and the system is recycled after completion of one book andbefore the first signature is fed to the sewing station withoutinterrupting feeding of signatures to the machine.

As is known in the art of manufacturing books, to make up a book aplurality of signatures comprising the book are sewed to each other, thefirst signature is glued to the second signature and the next to lastand last signatures are glued to each other. When the signatures havebeen sewed and glued in this manner, threads between successive booksare cut.

There are known in the prior art machines for performing the operationsdescribed above. Machines generally in use for achieving theseoperations are controlled by the operator. Owing to the fact that theoperator must manually place the signatures one by one on the machinesaddle, the other operations are controlled by foot pedals. Ifproduction of defective books is to be minimized, control of the gluingand cutting operations by means of the foot pedals must be done in anaccurately timed relationship to the feeding of signatures from thesaddle to the sewing station. Thus, if any significant rate ofproduction is to be achieved on machines of this type, a skilledoperator must be employed. Owing to the necessity for using highlyskilled operators, production of books in this manner is relativelyexpensive.

There have been a number of attempts in the prior art to automate theoperations required to assemble signatures into books. In one attempt ofthe prior art, after a number of signatures have been fed to themachine, an auxiliary control mechanism is employed to initiate aglue-cut-glue sequence of operations as the end of a book is approached.The difficulty with this arrangement is that the entire sequence must becompleted and cannot be interrupted without involving wasted operationswhen production has once been stopped and must again be started as whenshifting from one book to another containing a different number ofsignatures.

In another system which has been proposed in the prior art forautomating operations of assembling signatures into books, a blank spaceis provided between books to permit the necessary operations at the endof a book to take place. Owing to the presence of this blank spacebetween successive books, production is not continuous and isconsiderably below what is desirable, particularly where bookscontaining only a few signatures are being assembled.

I have invented an automatic control system for a book sewing machinewhich overcomes the defects of book sewing machines of the prior art. Mysystem permits books to be made continuously in a rapid and expeditiousmanner. It does not necessitate the provision of a blank space betweensuccessive books. It greatly facilitates shift- 3,492,955 Patented Feb.3, 1970 ing between books containing different numbers of signatures. Mysystem automatically recycles in less than a single revolution of themain drive shaft of the machine. My system can readily be reset at anypoint in the course of a book making operation in the event of amalfunction. A machine equipped with my system does not require askilled operator. It is readily adapted to installation on existingmachines. My machine appreciably increases production over that of whichmachines in use are capable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide anautomatic control system for a book sewing machine for continuouslyproducing books in a rapid and expeditious manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic control systemfor a book sewing machine which does not require a blank space betweensuccessive books in the signature feed to the machine.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an automatic controlsystem for a book sewing machine which greatly facilitates shiftingbetween books made up of different numbers of signatures.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic controlsystem for a book sewing machine for achieving a substantially higherrate of production than do machines presently in use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automaticcontrol system for a book sewing machine which can readily be reset atany point in the machine cycle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an automatic controlsystem for a book sewing machine which automatically recycles in lessthan one revolution of the machine shaft.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingdescription.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of an automaticcontrol system for a book sewing machine in which successive signaturesfed to the machine are counted and in response to the countingoperation, the first and second signatures are glued, the last and nextto last signatures are glued and the threads between successive booksare cut. At the end of a book, the machine automatically recycleswithout interrupting the signature feed to initiate the operationsrequired for assemblying the next book before the first signature of thenext book is fed to the sewing station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings whichform part of the instant specification and which are to be read inconjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used toindicate like parts in the various views:

FIGUREl is a schematic view of one form of book sewing machine adaptedto be provided with my automatic control.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the machine illustratedin FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the cam and switcharrangement of my automatic control system.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of my automatic control system for a booksewing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to drawings, oneform of book sewing machine indicated generally by the referencecharacter 10 to which I may apply my control system includes astationary saddle portion 12 on which signatures 14 are deposited by themachine operator. A feed pawl 16 is 3 adapted to be moved to the left,as viewed in FIGURE 1, in a. manner to be described to engage thesignature 14 and deliver it to a movable saddle portion 18.

The machine includes a main drive shaft 20 adapted to be driven from amotor (not shown) through the medium of a clutch and brake system (notshown). Shaft 20 carries a signature feed cam 22 having a track whichreceives a follower supported on a lever 26 pivotally supported on ashaft 28 on the machine frame 30. A spring 32 normally urges the lever26 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to holdthe follower in engagement with the cam track. A link 34 connects theend of lever 26 remote from shaft 28 to a ball joint connection 36 onone arm of a bell crank 38 pivotally supported on a shaft 40. A pin 42pivotally connects the other arm of bell crank 38 to a bar 44 whichsupports the pawl 16. As cam 22 rotates, lever 26 oscillates tooscillate the bell crank 38 to reciprocate rod 44 to move the pawl 16back and forth along the saddle 12 to deliver signatures 14 from thestationary saddle 12 to the movable saddle 18.

As has been pointed out hereinabove, the first and second signatures ofa book and the next to last and last signatures of a book are gluedtogether. The glue or paste applying means of the machine 10 includes abail 46 carried by a shaft 48 for movement therewith from a position ina paste trough 50 to a position shown in broken lines at which itapplies paste along the edge of a signature supported on the movablesaddle portion 18. Shaft 48 also carries for movement therewith a gearsegment 52 which cooperates with another gear segment 54 supported on ashaft 56 for movement therewith. A fitting 58 on a vertically movablerod 60 connects the rod to a crank 62 on shaft 56. The other end of therod 60 is pivotally connected to a crank 64 carried by a shaft 66 forrotation therewith. A spring 68 normally urges crank 64 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1.

Owing to the fact that the glue applying operation is to be performedonly twice during the manufacture of each book, means is provided forlocking the lever 64 at times other than the times at which the glueapplying operation is to be done. A lockout arm 70 supported on a shaft72 for rotation therewith is provided with a notch 74 which receives adetent stud 76 on crank 64. As long as the detent 76 is in the recess74, spring 68 cannot move the rod 60 upwardly.

A crank 78 on shaft 72 is normally urged by a spring 80 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to hold arm 70 in aposition at which it receives detent 76. A solenoid 82 is adapted to beenergized in a manner to be described to move crank 78 in a clockwisedirection by means of a linkage 84 to move arm 70 away from detent 76 tofree crank 64. Shaft 66 carries for rotation therewith an arm 86 havinga cam follower 88 thereon for engaging the surface of a cam 90 carriedby the shaft 20. If, in a manner to be described, solenoid 82 isenergized to move the latching arm 80 out of engagement with detent 76to permit spring 68 to urge crank 64 in a counterclockwise direction,follower 88 is moved into engagement with the surface of cam 90. Whenthe low surface 92 of the cam is adjacent roller 88, spring 68 moves rod60 upwardly to drive the bail 46 in one direction. When the high pointof the cam 90 engages roller 88, rod 60 is moved downwardly to returnbail 46 to its initial posiiton. As that occurs, detent 76 again engagesin the recess 74 of crank 70 since solenoid 82 is de-energized.

On each operation of the machine 10 the movable saddle 18 moves from thefull line position to the broken line position to permit the sewingmechanism (not shown) to act on the signature to sew it to the precedingsignature. Since the sewing mechanism per se is well known in the artand forms no part of my invention, it will not be described in detail.The mechanism includes a needle plate 94 having needle guide slots 96through which the needles move in performing the sewing operation. Itwill be appreciated that at the end of a sewing operation, threadsextend from the last signature up through the slots 96 in plate 94 tothe needles of the sewing mechanism. In order to achieve the operationof cutting the threads, plate 94 is merely shogged as indicated by thedouble-headed arrow to break the threads. A crank 98 supported on ashaft 100 is connected to plate 94 to reciprocate the plate in responseto an oscillatory movement of shaft 100. That shaft carries a crank 102,the end of which remote from shaft 100 carries a follower 104 whichrides in a cam track 106 in a cam 108 rotatably supported on a shaft110.

Shaft 110 pivotally supports a bell crank 112, one arm of which carriesa pawl 114 adapted to engage in the recesses of a ratchet wheel 116connected to the cam 108 for movement therewith. A rod 118 connects theother arm of hell crank 112 to a lockout lever 120 supported on shaft 66for pivotal movement. A spring 122 normally urges the lever 120 torotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. A spring 124normally urges a lockout arm 126 carried by a shaft 128 for rotationtherewith in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to aposition at which the lower end of the lever engages a fitting 130* Onlever 120 to prevent the lever from being driven under the action of thespring 122. A crank 132 on shaft 128 is connected to the armature 134 ofa solenoid 136. A spring-loaded detent 138 is adapted to engage innotches 140 in the periphery of cam 108 so as to position the camaccurately after it has been driven in a manner to be described.

Lever 120 also carries a follower 142 adapted to coact with theperiphery of a cam 144 carried by shaft 20'. With the parts in theposition shown in FIGURE 1, the cam 144 will not drive lever 120. When,however, the solenoid 136 is energized to rotate crank 132 in aclockwise direction, arm 126 moves away from lever 120 and spring 122tends to move the lever in a clockwise direction. This action can occur,however, only when the low portion of cam 144 is adjacent the follower142. When that condition exists, rod 118 is driven to rotate the bellcrank 112 in a clockwise direction to move pawl 114 back two notchesalong the periphery of the ratchet wheel 116. Now, when the high portionof the cam engages the follower 142, lever 120 is moved in acounterclockwise direction and rod 118 drives the bell crank 112 torotate ratchet wheel 116 and cam 108 in a clockwise direction through aquarter of a revolution. As will readily be apparent from the showing ofFIGURE 2, the track 106 is so shaped that a quarter revolution of thecam 108 provides a reciprocating motion of plate 94 so as to cut thethreads.

It is to be understood that the mechanical structure thus far describedis known in the art and for that reason has not been shown in detail. Inmachines of the prior art, the operations described hereinabove as beingachieved in response to energization of solenoids 82 and 136 haveusually been performed in response to actuation of foot pedals. I haveprovided an improved control system for so energizing the solenoids 82and 136 as to permit books to be continuously made on the machine 10without requiring either wasted operations or blank spaces in thesignature feed between adjacent books.

I mount a cam 146 on shaft 20 for movement therewith. I provide cam 146with a peripheral segment 148 of a suitable magnetic material such, forexample, as iron or steel secured to the cam disc 146 in any suitablemanner. I mount respective proximity limit switches 150 and 152 inpredetermined spaced relationship around the periphery of the cam 146 tocontrol the operations of the machine 10. It will readily be appreciatedthat the switches 150 and 152 are actuated in response to the presenceof the magnetic material 148 adjacent the switches.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, I have shown one form of my control systemfor operating the machine in such a way as to permit continuousmanufacture of books thereon. I connect respective main supplyconductors 154 and 156 to the terminals 158 and 160 of a suitable sourceof electrical energy such, for example, as 115 v., 60 cycle, A.C. Aswitch S1 may be closed to connect a control circuit conductor 162 toterminal 160 through a fuse 164, When that operation has been achieved,a signal lamp 166 lights to indicate that the control panel isenergized.

With the control panel energized, to initiate the book sewing operation,a foot pedal switch S2 is operated to energize a relay winding 1R toclose respective normally open switches 1R1 and 1R2 to connect theclutch solenoid BR across conductors 154 and 156. In a manner known tothe art, this operation causes shaft 20 to rotate. I rotate the shaftuntil the pickup pawl 114 moves to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1, toa position about six inches in back of that at which it will engage asignature 14 on the stationary saddle 12 upon its return movement to theleft.

My control system includes a counter 168 made up of a plurality offlip-flop switching units 170, 172, 174, 176 and 178, of which only thefirst two units are shown in detail. Each of the units, such as the unit170, includes an input relay latching winding lNL, an input relayunlatching winding 1NU, respective normally open and normally closedinput relay switches 1N1 and 1N2, an output relay latching coil lFL, anoutput relay unlatching winding lFU and output relay switches 1P1, 1P2,1P3 and 1P4 as well as a number of isolating diodes. In the arrangementof unit 170, switches 1F1 and 1P4 are normally closed switches whileswitches 1P2 and IE3 are normally open. The unit 172 includes similarcomponents with the exception that they are designated by the initialnumeral 2. Moreover, switch 2P4 is a normally open switch rather than anormally closed switch. I have not shown the details of the units 174,176 and 178 but have only shown the F3 and F4 output switches of theseunits to simplify the explanation of the system.

First, to explain the operation of the counter 168, it is adapted to beresponsive to a direct current potential such, for example, as thatwhich is provided by a rectifier circuit 180 connected betweenconductors 154 and 162 to provide its output voltage on conductors 182and 184. The first input pulse to unit 170 of counter 168 is provided ina manner to be described on a conductor 186 connected to switches 1P1and IE2. Considering the effect of this first input signal, it passesthrough switch 1P1 to coil 1NL to change switches 1N1 and 1N2 from theirrespective normally open and normally closed conditions to closed andopen. The next input to the system is provided in a manner to bedescribed on a conductor 188 connected to the common terminal ofswitches 1N1 and 1N2 to energize winding 1FL. When winding lFL isenergized, switches 1P1, 1P2, 1P3 and 1P4 change, respectively, fromnormally closed, normally open, normally open and normally closed, toopen, closed, closed and open. Closing of switch 1P3 represents a countof 1 provided by the counter.

On the occurrence of the third input pulse on conductor 186, winding lNUis energized to return switches 1P3 and 1P4 to their normal conditions.This pulse also passes through a conductor 190 to the winding 2NLthrough switch 2F1. Consequently, the switches 2N1 and 2N2 change,respectively, from open to closed and from closed to open. The fourthpulse to the system appears on conductor 188 from whence it is fed tothe winding 2FL to change switches 2F1, 2P2, 2P3 and 2F4 from respectiveconditions of closed, open, open and open to open, closed, closed andclosed.

The switches 1P3 to 5F3 respectively represent the five places ofsignificance from most to least significant of a natural binary codednumber. With all of the switches open a count of zero=00000 isrepresented. With all switches closed the maximum count ofthirty-one=llll1 in the natural binary code is represented. It willreadily be appreciated that my counter 168 contains as many units as arenecessary to generate the maximum count desired. The closing of switch2P3 with switch 1P3 now being open provides a representation in thenatural binary system of 00010 representing 2. On the next two succes'sive input pulses, switch 1P3 closes while switch 2P3 remains closed soas to provide a count of 00011 representing 3. The remainder of thesystem may be followed through in an analogous manner to demonstratethat the switches 1P3 to SP3 provide a count representation in responseto successive pairs of input pulses from zero to thirty-one.

I so arrange my system as to permit the count or the number ofsignatures for each book to be determined with ease. I connectrespective switches C1 to C5 across the respective normally openswitches 1P3 to SP3 to permit the latter switches selectively to beremoved from the counter circuit so as to give the desired count. Forexample, where I wish to assemble books having only 10 signatures each,I close switches C5, C3 and C1 leaving only switches C2 and C4 open toprovide a count of 2+8 or 10. It is to be noted also that only switch2P4 of all the switches 1F4 to SP4 is normally open. As will be apparentfrom the explanation hereinafter, this arrangement is necessary toperform the first gluing operation at the proper point in the cycle.

Having operated the machine in the manner described above, to positionthe pickup pawl 16 at a position at which it is about to pick up asignature 14 on the saddle 12, the operator then presses the recyclepushbutton 1PB to energize a recycle relay winding 2R to open a normallyclosed switch 2R1 to close a normally open switch 2R2 and to close anormally open switch 2R3. Owing to this operation, a pulse is appliedthrough switch 2R2 and through a conductor 192 to all of the outputrelay unlatching windings 1FU to 5FU to reset all of the units. When thepushbutton is released, the recycle relay 2R is de-energized and itsassociated switches return to their initial conditions. Actuation of lPBalso completes a circuit to a start lamp 196 through a normally closedrelay switch 9R1, to be described hereinafter.

At this point in the cycle of operations, the leading portion of segment148 in the direction of rotation indicated in FIGURE 3 has not yetreached switch 152 so that this switch is not active. In this conditionof switch 152 its contact arm, which is designated as lLS in FIG- URE 4,engages contact 1LS1. When the segment 148 moves to a point at which itis adjacent switch 152, contact arm 1LS moves into engagement withcontact 1LS2. Considering the beginning of the operation with arm ILS inengagement with contact 1LS1, a relay winding SR is energized to close aswitch 3R1 and to open a switch 3R2. In this condition of the systemboth switches 3R1 and 2R1 are closed so that winding lNL is energizedand switches 1N1 and 1N2 are, respectively, closed and open. When shaft20 is rotated to a point at which the segment is adjacent switch 152,arm lLS moves out of engagement with contact 1LS1. Winding SR is thusde-energized and contact switch 3R1 opens while contact 3R2 closes. Inthis manner a signal is supplied to winding lFL from conductor 188through switch 1N1 to close switch 1P3.

When segment 148 leaves switch 152, arm lLS returns to contact 1LS1 toenergize winding 3R to close switch 3R1 and to open switch 3R2. As aresult of this action, winding 1NU is energized to unlatch the inputrelay of unit 170. Further, conductor supplies a signal to winding 2NLthrough switch 2P1 to close switch 2N1 and to open switch 2N2. Whensegment 148 again influences switch 152, switch 3R1 opens and switch 3R2closes to provide a signal to winding 2FL to close switch 2P3 and toclose switch 2P4. Closing of switch 2P3 with switch 1P3 open representsa count of 2.

As has been pointed out hereinabove, all of the switches 1F4 and 3F4 toSP4 are normally closed. Closing of switch 2F4 completes a circuitthrough all of the seriesconnected switches 1P4 through SP4. I connectthe switches 1P4 through SP4 and a glue initiating relay winding 4R inseries between contact 1LS2 and the conductor 162. Thus, when switch 152is activated so that its arm lLS moves away from contact 1LS1 tocomplete the second count and then into engagement with contact 1LS2,winding 4R is energized. Winding 4R closes a normally open switch 4R1 aswell as a normally open switch 4R2. With switch 4R1 closed, gluesolenoid control relay winding SR is energized to close contacts R1 and5R2 to energize solenoid 82, the winding of which is designated as G inFIGURE 4. When that occurs, arm 70 is moved away from the lug 76 topermit spring 68 to drive crank 64 to cause the bail 46 to apply glue tothe second signature. As that signature is sewed to the first, it willalso be glued to the first signature. In this way the first gluingoperation is achieved.

Following the completion of the gluing operation, the count proceeds asbefore in response to movement of the arm 1LS into and out of engagementwith contact 1LS1 on each revolution of shaft 20. After the fourthsignature is fed, switch 3P3 closes. When the eighth signature is fed,switch 4P3 closes. It will be appreciated that at this time switch 2P3is open. As the tenth signature is fed, however, switch 2P3 closes.

Assuming that I have set my machine to assemble books of ten signatures,each, switch C5 is closed and feeding of the tenth signature completes acircuit of a reset relay winding 6R from conductorm 154 through switchC5, switch 4F3, switch C3, switch 2F3 and switch C1 to the relay winding6R and to conductor 162. The first operation produced by energization ofwinding 6R is the second gluing operation. Switch 6R1, which closes inresponse to energization of winding 6R, is connected in parallel withswitches 1P4 to SP4 to energize winding 4R when arm 1LS engages contact1LS2. As before, winding 4R closes switch 4R1 to energize winding 5R toclose switches 5R1 and 5R2, to energize the glue solenoid winding G tocause glue to be applied to the last signature in the manner describedabove so that the last signature is glued to the next to last signatureas it is sewed thereto.

Concomitant energization of windings 4R and 6R closes switches 4R2 and6R2 to energize a first auxiliary relay winding 7R to close switches 7R1and 7R2. Closing of the switch 7R1 provides a holding circuit for theauxiliary relay winding 7R after arm 1LS leaves contact 1SL2 todeenergize 4R. Closing of switch 7R2 completes a circuit for the recyclewinding 2R from conductor 162, through winding 2R, through conductor194, through switch 7R2, and through the switch 150, the contact arm 2L8of which normally engages a contact 2LS1 connected to conductor 154. Atthe same time a signal lamp 196 lights. The resultant energization ofwinding 2R closes switch 2R2 to provide a signal on conductor 192 tounlatch the relays of all of the units of counter 168. It also closesswitch 2R3 to energize the second auxiliary relay 8R to close a switch8R1. Winding 8R also closes switch 8R2 to bypass 2R3 and provide its ownholding circuit. When the arm lLS returns to the contact 1LS1 a circuitis complete for the cut relay control winding 9R from 1LS and 1LS1through 8R1 through a normally closed pushbutton 2PB and through winding9R to conductor 162. Winding 9R when energized opens contact 9R1 andcloses winding 9R2 to provide a holding circuit through 9R2 to maintainlight 196 on. Winding 9R further closes switch 9R3 to energize winding10R to close contacts 10R1 and 10R2 to energize the winding C of the cutsolenoid 136.

As has been explained hereinabove, when winding C is energized, shaft128 is rocked to move arm 126 away from the end of lever 120 to rotatebell crank 112 in a clockwise direction. Then as cam 144 engagesfollower 142 the bell crank 112 is moved in a counterclockwise directionthrough a quarter revolution. When that occurs, plate 94 oscillates tocut the threads extending through opening 96. With the solenoid 136de-energized, arm 126 is automatically reset in response to movement oflever under the action of cam 144.

When arm 1LS returns to contact 1LS1, relay winding.

4R drops out as explained hereinabove. As the pickup pawl 16 returns topick up the next signature, which is the first signature of the nextbook, segment 148 is in proximity to switch 150 to activate the switchto cause its contact arm, indicated as 2LS in FIGURE 4, to move awayfrom contact 2LS1 to interrupt the circuit of winding 2R. Arm lLS leaves1LS1 to de-energize 8R, 9R and 141R to ready the machine for the nextoperation. A normally closed pushbutton 2PB may be operated to disablethe cutter operation if desired.

The operation of my automatic control system for a book sewing machinewill readily be apparent from the above description. To summarize, themachine operator when preparing to assemble signatures into books firstsets switches C1 to C5 which may be operated in response to a dial, forexample, for the number of signatures which each book is to contain. Forexample, as shown in FIG- URE 4, switches C1, C3 and C5 may be closedwhile switches C2 and C4 are open to make books containing tensignatures each. When that has been done, the operator turns on thepower by closing switch S1. Next, switch S2 is closed by means of a footpedal or the like to energize the brake and clutch solenoid BR to drivethe machine to a point at which the pickup pawl 16 occupies a positionsomewhat before the pawl picks up a signature 14. Next, the recyclepushbutton PB1 is pressed to cause relay winding 2R to open switch 2R1and to close switch 2R2 to provide a reset input signal to the counterto reset all of the counter switches. In this condition of the parts,the arm lLS is in engagement with contact 1LS1 and an input is providedto the first counter unit to energize its latching relay lNL. As asignature advances through the machine, cam segment 148 influencesswitch 152 to move arm 1LS away from contact 1LS1 to cause relay 3R tosupply a pulse to the counter to operate the output relay winding IFL ofunit 170 to close switch 1P3 indicating one count. The second count isregistered in an analogous manner to close switches 2P3 and 2P4. Underthese conditions, when arm ILS engages contact 1LS2, winding 4R isenergized through all the F4 switches to cause the first gluingoperation to take place by energizing solenoid 82 to cause bail 46 toapply glue along the edge of the second signature as it is fed to thesewing station.

The count continues until finally the tenth count is registered whereinswitch 4P3 is closed to complete a circuit through switch C5, switch4P3, switch C3, switch 2P3 and switch C1 to energize winding 6R. First,switch 6R1 closes to provide the-second gluing operation by energizingwinding 4R. Simultaneous closing of contacts 6R2 and 4R2 energizeswinding 7R to energize the reset relay winding 2R to close contacts 2R3to energize auxiliary relay winding 8R which energizes winding 9R tomaintain start lamp 196 lit and to energize winding 10R to complete thecutter solenoid circuit which results in the cutting operation describedabove. Energization of winding 2R also recycles the counter andultimately switch 2LS leaves contact 2LS1 and the machine is ready forthe next operation.

From the structure and operation described it will be clear thatsuccessive books are made without interruption of feeding of signaturesby the operator. Moreover,. if a malfunction occurs at any point in thecycle, the operator need only press the recycling button lPB to startthe machine over again.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. Ihave provided an automatic control circuit for a book sewing machinewhich permits books to be made continuously without interrupting feedingof signatures by the operator. My automatic control system does awaywith the necessity for employing skilled operators. It does not involveany wasted operations of the machine. It greatly facilitates switchingbetween books requiring different numbers of signatures. It isespecially adapted for use in making books requiring a small number ofsignatures.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. It is further obvious that various changes may be madein details within the scope of my invention. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that my invention is not to be limited to the specificdetails shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A control system as in claim 19 including means for automaticallyresetting said counting means at the end of a book-assembling operation.7

2. A control system as in claim 19 including manually operable means forresetting said counting means.

3. A control system as in claim 19 in which said machine comprises ashaft, means for feeding a signature into said machine on eachrevolution of said shaft, said signal producing means actuating saidcounting means to produce a count on each revolution of said shaft andmeans responsive to rotation of said shaft for resetting said countingmeans within a revolution of said shaft.

4. A control system as in claim 19 in which said first and secondsignal-responsive means comprise a common relay adapted to be actuatedto operate said gluing means, said first signal-responsive meanscomprising a normally open switch adapted to be closed on the secondsignal to energize said relay, said second signal responsive meanscomprising a second normally open switch adapted to be closed on thesignal corresponding to the last signature of a book for closing saidrelay.

5. A control system as in claim 19 in which said counting meanscomprises a plurality of respective normally open switches closed assaid counter reaches various counts, said counter being adapted toregister a maximum count upon closure of all of said switches and meansfor selectively shunting said switches to set said counter for a countwithin said maximum count.

6. A control system as in claim 19 in which said counting meanscomprises a plurality of normally open switches corresponding to therespective places of significance of a binary coded representation,means responsive to successive pairs of input pulses for alternating theswitch corresponding to the least significant place between its normallyopen state and a closed state and means responsive to every other pairof input pulses for changing the state of the switch corresponding tothe next-to-least significant place to cause said counter switches toproduce an output binary coded representation and means responsive tosignal of said series for feeding pairs of pulses to said counter.

7. A control system as in calim 19 in which said counting means isadapted to provide an output representation in response to pairs ofinput pulses and means responsive to signals of said series for feedingpairs of pulses to said counter.

8. A control system as in claim 19 in which said machine has a shaft andin which said counting means is adapted to produce an outputrepresentation in response to pairs of input pulses, said signalproducing means comprising a proximity switch and an influence cam onsaid shaft for feeding pairs of pulses to said counter in response torotation of said shaft.

9. A control system as in claim 19 in which said machine has a shaft,said pulse pair feeding means comprising a relay said signal producing,means responsive to rotation of said shaft for alternately energizingand deenergizing said relay, means responsive to energization of saidrelay for applying a first pulse to said counter and means responsive todeenergization of said relay for applying a second pulse to saidcounter.

10. A control system as in claim 19 in which said last signal-responsivemeans comprises a cutter actuating switch, said counting meanscomprising a plurality of normally open switches and means responsive tosaid signals for closing said counter switches and means responsive toclosing of all of said counter switches for closing said cutteractuating switch.

11. A control system as in claim 19 including a recycling relay, anormally closed limit switch, a normally open auxiliary relay switch andmeans responsive to said last signal corresponding to the last signatureof a book for closing said normally open auxiliary relay switch toenergize said recycling relay through said limit switch.

12. A control system as in claim 19 including a recycling relay, anormally closed limit switch, a normally open auxiliary relay switch,means responsive to said last signal corresponding to the last signatureof a book for closing said normally open auxiliary relay switch toenergize said recycling relay through said limit switch, said lastsignal-responsive means comprising a normally open cutting means controlswitch and means responsive to said recycling relay for closing saidcutting means control switch.

13. A control system as in claim 19 including a recycling relay, anormally closed limit switch, a normally open auxiliary relay switch,means responsive to said last signal corresponding to the last signatureof a book for closing said normally open auxiliary relay switch toenergize said recycling relay through said limit switch and meansresponsive to said recycling switch for resetting 7 said counting means.

14. A control system as in claim 19 in which said last signal-responsivemeans comprises a normally open cutting means control switch, saidmachine including a shaft, a cam on said shaft, a recycling relay, anormally closed limit switch adapted to be actuated by said shaft, meansresponsive to said last signal corresponding to the last signature of abook for closing said normally open relay switch to energize saidrecycling relay through said limit switch and means responsive toenergization of said recycling relay for actuating said cutting meanscontrol switch.

15. A control system as in claim 22 in which said machine comprises ashaft and means for feeding a signature into said machine on eachrevolution of said shaft, said signal producing means including means.responsive to rotation of said shaft for actuating said counting meansto produce a count on each revolution of said shaft.

16. A control system as in claim 22 in which said machine comprises ashaft, means for feeding a signature into said machine on eachrevolution of said shaft, said signal producing means including meansresponsive to rotation of said shaft for actuating said counting meansto produce a count on each revolution of said shaft and means responsiveto rotation of said shaft for resetting said counting means within arevolution of said shaft.

17. A control system as in claim 22 in which said first and secondsignal-responsive means comprise a common relay adapted to be actuatedto operate said gluing means, said first signal-responsive meanscomprising a normally open switch adapted to be closed on the secondcount of said counter to energize said relay, said secondsignalresponsive means comprising a second normally open switch adaptedto be closed on the signal corresponding to the last signature of a bookfor closing said relay.

18. A control system as in claim 22 including a recycling relay, anormally closed limit switch, a normally open auxiliary relay switch,means responsive to said last signal corresponding to the last signatureof a book for closing said normally open auxiliary relay switch toenergize said recycling relay through said limit switch and meansresponsive to said recycling switch for resetting said counting means.

19. 'A control system for a book sewing machine for assembling a seriesof signatures fed to said machine into a book, said machine having meansadapted to be actuated to apply adhesive to a signature passing throughsaid machine and having means adapted to be actuated to cut threadsextending from a book assembled on said machine including incombination, means responsive to signatures fed to said machine forproducing a series of signals corresponding respectively to thesignatures Of said series, said series of signals comprising a secondsignal corresponding to the second signature of said series and a lastsignal corresponding to the last signature of said series, means forcounting said signals, means comprising said counting means responsiveto said second signal for actuating said adhesive applying means to gluethe first signature of said book to the second signature thereof, andmeans comprising said counting means responsive to said last signal foractuating said adhesive applying means to glue the last signature ofsaid book to the next-to-last signature thereof and to actuate saidcutting means at the end of said book assembly operation.

20. A system as in claim 19 in which said book is a first book, and inwhich said signature feed responsive means produces a second series ofsignals corresponding respectively to the signatures of a series ofsignatures making up a second book said second series of signals beingcontinuous with the first series of signals, and in which said secondsignal responsive means is responsive to the signal of the second seriescorresponding to the second signature of the second book.

21. A control system in claim 19 in which said counting means comprisesa normally open switch and means responsive to said second signal forclosing said switch, said second signal responsive means comprising of arelay and means responsive to closing of said switch for energizing saidrelay.

22. A control systemfor a book assembling machine for assembling aseries of signatures fed to said machine into a book, said machinehaving means adapted to be actuated to apply adhesive to a signaturepassing through said machine including in combination, means responsiveto signatures fed to said machine for producing a series of signalscorresponding respectively to the signature of saidseries, said seriesof signals comprising a second signal corresponding to the secondsignature of said series and a last signal corresponding to the lastsignature of said series, means for counting said signals, meansincluding said counting means responsive to said second signal foractuating said adhesive applying means to glue the first signature ofsaid book to the second signature thereof, and means including saidcounting means responsive to the last signal for actuating said adhesiveapplying means to glue the last signature of said book to thenext-to-last signature thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,103 5/1934 Gannon 112212,058,995 10/1936 Kleinschmit 112-21 2,334,265 11/1943 Hildmann 112-213,130,966 4/1964 Hepp 270-54 HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl.X.R.

